soundoff(20 Responses)

this is not surprising . Some people don't think of unemployment insurance as government aid. Without social security and medicare most older people could not survive.

December 18, 2012 02:39 pm at 2:39 pm |

Rudy NYC

If it were not for our social safety nets, the country would have plunged into another Great Depression in 2008. GDP had dropped to -9%.

December 18, 2012 02:42 pm at 2:42 pm |

ghostriter

When you throw in SS and college aid, it jumps to 70%.

Say conservatives, looks like the 47% you don't care about includes many of yourselves.

December 18, 2012 02:50 pm at 2:50 pm |

tammyk tammy

Since the makers are also takers, I would like to add this to Bohner's budget plan: Let's set up a hotline for all of the less government, reduce taxes, lower the deficit budget hawks where they can voluntarily agree to give up their rights to any govt benefits for one year with all proceeds being applied to bringing down the deficit. Let's really see if they will put their money where their mouth is! Sadly I don't think we would find any takers among the makers who would be willing to make this sacrifice.

December 18, 2012 02:53 pm at 2:53 pm |

FactCheck

Say it again, with me: Social Security and Medicare are not safety nets. I pay a huge chunk of my salary into both these programs every month so that millionaires can continue to enjoy their single digit tax rates.

December 18, 2012 02:55 pm at 2:55 pm |

Rudy NYC

What is really surprising to the right wing is that more than 70% of the dollars spent on Medicare/Medicaid went to voters who supported Mitt Romney, most especially the Medicare dollars. They voted against themselves.

December 18, 2012 02:58 pm at 2:58 pm |

Rudy NYC

FactCheck

Say it again, with me: Social Security and Medicare are not safety nets.
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Yes, they are. The manner in which they are funded as *nothing* to do with the fact that they are indeed social safety nets.

December 18, 2012 03:00 pm at 3:00 pm |

Evergreen

Is corporate welfare a type of safety net?

December 18, 2012 03:06 pm at 3:06 pm |

rs

And yet the GOP still doesn't understang what government does. Add in folks who use federally built roads and highways, visit national parks, use national forests, fly in planes- why it reaches 100% OH, the horror- the citizens realizing that government MAKES their lives... BETTER! How shocking they don't wish to give these benfits of modern life up so that rich people can get bigger tax cuts!

December 18, 2012 03:08 pm at 3:08 pm |

Sniffit

"What is really surprising to the right wing is that more than 70% of the dollars spent on Medicare/Medicaid went to voters who supported Mitt Romney, most especially the Medicare dollars. They voted against themselves."

Yeah, but did you see the "tan" on that other guy?

December 18, 2012 03:10 pm at 3:10 pm |

The Real Tom Paine

Since virtually every Red State received more federal dollars than they send to Washington, they ought to be included as well. Move to a Blue State and learn to pay your own way.

December 18, 2012 03:13 pm at 3:13 pm |

Al-NY,NY

...and I'll be willing to bet that a large percentage of these people vote for the party of "takers versus makers" and that villifies anything even remotely resembling help from the government. The hypocrisy and stupidity is astounding

December 18, 2012 03:16 pm at 3:16 pm |

Fair is Fair

Mission accomplished.

December 18, 2012 03:17 pm at 3:17 pm |

James Bond

Rudy, what i have seen in my state, mi., is nothing short of criminal, yet people, or a good % of them, dont care because they simply dont understand losing ANY right, wether it directly affects you is bad bad bad, our founding fathers were trying to protect us from our own government for a reason power, and greed is nothing new

They should make all the selfrighous republicans ineligible for any aid like cantor did to virginians when he refuse to fund flood aid to them and the morons still realected the gop bafoon !!!!!

December 18, 2012 03:19 pm at 3:19 pm |

Logic N LA

Rudy- if you pay for it – it's not a safety net- it's an insurance policy for your future. there was a time a person used to get 7 times the amount they paid into SS- now it is equal. that is not aid- that is your money.
Back to topic- When you throw in the number of peopel workng for the government- the retired politians and civil servants on government pensions and benefits, retired military personnel- the number is probably closer to 90% and those are the one that squawk the loudest about "handouts"!

December 18, 2012 03:22 pm at 3:22 pm |

James Bond

Mitt romney, and most other uber rich, have all sorts of deductions, but somehow those are not even considered a gift, the republican party does nothing but lie, blame the other guy for exactly what they are doing, even though its total bs

December 18, 2012 03:22 pm at 3:22 pm |

James Bond

Sad to realize that so many vote republican, without knoowing the score, so llet me help.. if you do not have, or make, or stand to inherit millions, you are voting for the enemy, do us all a favor and do some research, 5 minutes on the right website and you may be shocked. get informed before you vote next

December 18, 2012 03:27 pm at 3:27 pm |

Rudy NYC

James Bond

Rudy, what i have seen in my state, mi., is nothing short of criminal, yet people, or a good % of them, dont care because they simply dont understand losing ANY right, wether it directly affects you is bad bad bad, our founding fathers were trying to protect us from our own government for a reason power, and greed is nothing new
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That is not why the 2nd Amendment was written. It was written at time when police forces existed. It was written to provide a legal authority for citizens to protect themselves from crime through a "well-regulated militia."

It was not written to provide citizens with a means to overthrow the government. That's the gun manufacturers telling your that, filling your head with desires to buy more and more of their products. It's an old Jedi mind trick.

December 18, 2012 03:33 pm at 3:33 pm |

Rudy NYC

CORRECTION:

"That is not why the 2nd Amendment was written. It was written at time when *NO* police forces existed. ...."